American Roman Catholics, angered and demoralised by priest sex abuse scandals, say one man can help revitalise the Church: Pope Benedict XVI, who visits the US this week.

The Pope's trip to Washington and New York marks the first US visit by a pontiff since a wave of sex abuse scandals began in 2002, provoking lawsuits that have forced dioceses to pay more than $2bn in settlements.

Some advocates for the victims want the Pope to apologise; others want him to ban child molesters from the priesthood or publicly identify them.

The Vatican has said Pope Benedict will discuss the scandal during his visit, but there is uncertainty over whether he will meet any victims of abuse.

The Church commissioned a study which found 10,667 people accused 4,392 priests of child sexual abuse from 1950 to 2002. Church leaders have said the study illustrates how seriously they take the problem. The Church has changed its rules so that it is easier to dismiss priests whenever there is a credible claim of abuse, according to Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Walsh could not say how many priests were removed - many had died or retired by the time the report came out - but she said the Pope would address the victims' suffering. 'It's very close to Holy Father's heart. He is horrified by this crime,' Walsh said.

Barbara Blaine, who formed the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, suspects the Pope may meet carefully selected victims in a public relations gesture. She said the Church continued to protect the identities of abusers and the bishops who know about the abuse.

'The stakes are so high. Children are at risk. There's a public safety crisis still in America today,' Blaine said.

'We need something bold from the Pope and we hope it will come during his visit.'